Concave diaphragm applicator



Nov. 12, 1968 G. SCHWARTZMAN 3,410,645

CONCAVE DIAPHRAGM APPLICATOR Filed May 8, 1967 I N VEN TOR. 4 166.97J/mwerz/ww 3M JMM United States Patent 3,410,645 CONCAVE DIAPHRAGMAPPLICATOR Gilbert Schwartzman, 20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583Filed May 8, 1967, Ser. No. 636,800 7 Claims. (Cl. 401-135) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An applicator for applying shoe polish, medications,cosmetics, and the like comprising a body having a projecting portionattached to a container. A relatively thick flange at the top of theprojecting portion has a substantially flat surface to which asponge-like pad is bonded. Integral with the flange and the projectingportion is a diaphragm having normally closed slits therein. A stud isintegral with the diaphragm and extends into the pad and upon depressionof the pad and the stud the diaphragm will flex inwardly to open thediaphragm for permitting and directing fluid flow against the pad foroptimum application of the fluid on the surface to be covered.

This invention relates to an applicator applying on any suitable surfacevarious types of fluids such as shoe polish, pigments, cosmetics,medications or the like. Briefly, the concept of the invention residesin the utilization of a diaphragm integral with a relatively thickflange which supports a sponge-like padded bonded to the flange andspaced from the diaphragm. The diaphragm has slits therein so that uponactuation of a stud integral with the diaphragm the slits will open andthe diaphragm will direct fluid against the under surface of the pad foroptimum application of the fluid.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a devicefor applying shoe polish or like fluid which is intially sealed so as toprovide for long shelf life and reduced evaporation.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of anapplicator made out of two simple parts of readily available materials,which has a novel streamlined andhighly attractive appearance, yet whichis substantially foolproof and eifective in operation and capable ofapplying fluids into even tight corners and crevices such as often occuron shoes and like surfaces.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of an applicator which is simple in construction, strong anddurable, capable of being manufactured at an extremely low cost, yetwhich is highly effective in use.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention, which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this concave diaphragm applicator, a preferredembodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, by way ofexample only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the appplicator shown mountedon a container and in the normally closed position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 22 inFIG. 1 showing the device in the normally closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the device in use with the diaphragm in theopen position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view looking in the direction of line 44 inFIG. 3 showing the diaphragm with the slits in their open position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the applicator, and,

FIG. 6 is a top plane view of a modified form of the applicator.

3,410,645 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 ice With continuing reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similarparts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used togenerally designate an applicator constructed in accordance with theconcepts of the present invention, and which is designed to be used incombination with a container 12 having a neck 14 provided with a lip 16.The applicator includes a body generally indicated at 1'8 and having aprojecting portion 20 provided with a groove 22 therein for receivingthe lip 16 which is snap fitted therein for holding the body 18 to thecontainer 12. It is within the concepts of the present invention to usethreaded means in lieu of the snap-fitting arrangement or to. fit theprojecting portion 20 within the neck 14. Nevertheless, the snap fittingarrangement of the lip 16 and the groove 22 provides for better supportfor a pad 24 mounted at the top of the body 18.

The body 18 further includes a flange 26 which is relatively thick andextends outwardly to provide a substantially large and substantiallyflat supporting surface 28 to which the pad 24 is affixed by heatingsealing or adhesive bonding. Integrally formed with the flange 26 andthe projecting portion 20 is a diaphragm 30 which extends transverse ofthe projecting portion 20 forming a web across the projecting portion.The diaphragm 30 is normally concave downwardly and has four slots 32therein each extending normal to a radius of the Web 30 and offsetdegrees from each other. Rising from the center of the web is a stud 34which extends more than half way up the pad 24 and sits in a centralhole or bore 3-6 formed in the pad 24. The slots 32 are formed byutilizing hot knives which cut the slots but when withdrawn permit forthe synthetic plastic matter from which the body 18 is formed to sealthe slots 32 in a positive manner preventing any fluid flow until theseals which are frangible are broken.

Depression of the stud 34 which would come from normal pressure of theapplicator on a suitable surface as is shown in FIG. 3, will cause thediaphragm 30 to flex inwardly opening the slits as shown in FIG. 4 topermit flui-d from the container 12 to flow outwardly in the directionof arrows 38 and through the sponge as indicated by arrows 40. Theremoval of pressure on the sponge-like pad 24 will cause the diaphragm30 to flex inwardly and pump the remaining fluid in the enlargedreservoir 42 onto the undersurface of the pad 24 so that light pressureinsuificient to flex the diaphragmv may then be used to coat with thepad 24 of the applicator the surface being treated. The reservoir 42 isdefined by the undersurface of the pad 24 and the web 30.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a modified form of the invention in which theflange is generally indicated by reference numeral 60 and is ofrectangular shape, while the pad 62 is likewise of rectangular shapeotherwise the parts are similar.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the.invention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

I claim:

1. An applicator comprising a body having a projecting portion forattachment to a container, an outwardly extending relatively thickflange at the top of said projecting portion having a substantially flatupper surface, a relatively thin resilient flexible diaphragm integralwith said flange and said projecting portion and extending transverse tosaid projecting portion forming a web across said projecting portion, astud integrally formed with said diaphragm rising upwardly therefrom,said diaphragm being concave downwardly and having spaced normallyclosed slits therein, and a sponge-like pad bonded to said flange andspaced from said diaphragm forming a reservoir between said pad and saiddiaphragm, said pad having means therein for receiving said stud so thatpressure on said pad will cause said diaphragm to flex and open saidslits.

2. An applicator according to claim 1, including frangible sealing meansinitially integrally sealing said slits until first depression of saidpad.

3. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said pad is formed offoamed polyurethane.

4. An applicator according to claim 1, including a container having alip, said projecting portion having a groove in the inner sunfacethereof, said lip being snap fitted in said groove.

5. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said stud extends morethan half the thickness of said pad, said pad having a hole thereinreceiving said stud.

6. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said flange and said padare circular in shape.

7. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said flange and said padare rectangular in shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,760 '6/1916 Berry 155811,188,971 6/1916 Miller 1558l 1,959,774 5/1939 Walsh 15--582 2,075,2493/1937 Wilson 15-579 XR 2,911,664 11/1959 Zecchini 15561 XR 2,913,74811/1959 Felter 15582 3,147,512 9/1964 Gleason 15582 XR 3,271,810 9/1966Rafie 15539 3,276,067 10/1966 Boyle et el. 15582 3,296,649 1/1967Schwartzman 15--566 2,284,207 5/1942 Hawkins 401-145 3,264,676 8/1966Schwartzrnan 401-206 XR 3,337,900 8/ 1967 Schwartzrnan 401-206 CHARLESA. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

